US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that the United States may not reach an agreement with Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, as negotiations appear stalled and the US-Israel conflict continues.
Wright said diplomatic outreach remains open, but suggested the threat could instead be addressed through further US military action against Iran’s ability to manufacture and deploy missiles, or by waiting for a future Iranian administration.
What Wright said about the nuclear talks
Appearing on ABC, Wright said a nuclear agreement might not be reached. He described two possible paths: destroying Iran’s capabilities to manufacture and deploy nuclear-capable missiles, or reaching an agreement under a future Iranian administration.
Wright later told CBS that the United States was not ending diplomatic outreach and was “always open for a deal.” The talks follow the collapse of a June interim agreement that had aimed to end military operations but did not produce a lasting settlement covering peace or the future of Iran’s remaining nuclear program. For additional context, see “What the latest US-Iran tanker attacks mean for the Strait of Hormuz”.
Why the Strait of Hormuz remains a concern
Wright said on CNN that the United States was working with fleets from Gulf countries to increase the number of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. He did not give an unequivocal assurance that the passage was safe for merchant vessels, saying ships could travel safely if they worked with the US Navy.
He also declined to say whether the US Navy would remain in the Gulf indefinitely. Wright said the military’s biggest current role in the region was stopping Iranian energy exports, describing the policy as an effort to pressure Iran toward a change in policy or government. A related part of this story is covered in “What is really moving through the Strait of Hormuz?”.
Conflict continues without agreement on its description
Asked whether the United States was still at war, Wright said the country remained in a conflict. Vice-president JD Vance had described the situation as a military conflict rather than a war, while Donald Trump defended that wording.
Republican Senator John Kennedy said Sunday that the conflict would probably not be over by November. The conflict passed six months in late August, and former defense secretary Leon Panetta warned that it could last much longer. The development of this issue can be followed in “Iran warns of heavier retaliation as US blockade strains oil exports”.
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